What Utah Fathers Can Do to Strengthen the Impact of Their Daughters

Utah is full of engaged, passionate individuals who frequently ask the question, “What can I personally and/or professionally do to strengthen the impact of Utah girls and women?” To provide specific answers to that question, the Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) hosted a series of “think tank” gatherings to collect best practices for various stakeholders interested in supporting and empowering Utah girls and women. This idea sheet is based on a 2019 gathering of 25 fathers who are raising school-aged daughters in Utah. Knowing that fathers have a profound effect on their daughters’ growth and development throughout the years, their discussion focused on culture, family dynamics, personal development, confidence and resilience, and education and career preparation.

Culture

Utah fathers recognize the strong influence local culture can have on the way their daughters develop their sense of self. The state’s distinct environment, with its own set of social norms, can affect girls and young women in both positive and negative ways. Fathers can work to support their daughters’ efforts to navigate cultural influences by doing the following:

• Make conscious efforts to be more aware of the messages girls and women receive about roles, stereotypes, biases, limitations, self-worth, values, and confidence; discuss these messages with daughters and work together to minimize harmful effects.
• Examine their own unconscious biases and how these may be affecting their daughters, including differences in how they treat daughters versus sons.
• Treat all girls and women with dignity and respect; teach daughters what they have the right to expect.

Family Dynamics

As fathers interact with daughters and other family members within the home, they can contribute to positive attitudes and behaviors that support the growth and development of girls and young women:

• Be an ally for daughters in all areas, but especially in advocating for them when it comes to gender equity.
• Girls will appreciate fathers who “talk the talk” but also “walk the walk.”
• Spend time with daughters: listen to them, share ideas and advice when needed, prioritize unstructured time, and participate in things they enjoy.
• Treat daughters as individuals, and ensure they know they are unconditionally loved and accepted. 

Personal Development

One of the greatest ways fathers can strengthen the impact of girls and young women is through providing opportunities for learning and growth. Engaged fathers can do the following:

• Encourage daughters to take the lead in identifying and pursuing their interests and talents (fathers should avoid pushing their own interests on daughters).
• Foster independence by providing opportunities for girls to learn a wide variety of life skills including those that often default to men, such as home repairs, car maintenance, and financial literacy (e.g., debt management, saving, investing).
• Support girls’ intangible learning experiences; teach them emotional intelligence, rational exploration, decision making skills, flexibility, and adaptability; these skills are best taught by example, followed by opportunities to practice.

Confidence & Resilience

In addition to supporting their daughters’ personal learning and growth, research shows that fathers play a significant role in helping daughters develop confidence and resilience:

• Be aware of factors that diminish confidence (e.g., focus on physical appearance, rigid gender stereotypes, overuse of social media, perfectionism), and actively work to combat them.
• Give daughters the chance to set, work toward, and achieve goals, recognizing that confidence grows through action, effort, and hard work.
• Create a safe space for daughters to actually fail (not just learn about failure theoretically) and celebrate the learning that follows; hold them accountable for their mistakes and help them develop the grit that comes through trial, perseverance, and reflection. 

Education & Career Preparation

Fathers can serve as powerful role models for their daughters in terms of education and professional preparation. There are numerous ways fathers help their daughters succeed:

• Set expectations for girls from a young age that they should plan to attend and graduate from college; help them realize this goal through ongoing college preparation and financial readiness.
• Build enthusiasm for higher education by taking girls to visit colleges, having them meet with women college students, discussing possible pathways, and helping them save their own money.
• Ensure daughters know they will likely spend many years in the labor force and that education and skills training gives them more and better options for employment.

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To learn more about What Utah Fathers Can Do to Strengthen the Impact of Their Daughters read the entire brief.